Q6: Abnormalities Flashcards
abnormal
maladaptive affects, behaviors and cognition that are at odds with societal expectations and result in distress or discomfort.
maladaptive
not able to function normally
diagnosis
act of recognizing a disorder on the basis of specified symptoms (DSM-5)
problems with classification / labeling
can be dehumanizing, don’t explain behaviors, can create lasting stigmas, comorbidity
insanity
(time of the crime) legal term, requires evidence that they didn’t know/understand consequences, difference between right/wrong, or unable to control actions
competence
(time of the trial) understand courtroom procedures, aid in defense.
Anxiety Disorders
feeling of general apprehension or dread accompanied by predictable psychological changes. sympathetic nervous system.
-Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, phobic Disorder, PTSD
Beta Blockers
inhibit SNS activation
generalized anxiety disorder
persistent, excessive levels of anxiety. anxiety has a free floating quality in that it is not tied to a particular object or situation.
panic disorder
repeated panic attacks accomplished by persistent concern about future attacks. panic attacks have strong physiological symptoms. onset is unpredictable
phobias / phobic disorders
persistent and excessive fear of an object, activity, or situation. avoidance of phobic object is negatively reinforced by relief.
treatment: therapy with systemic desensitization
watson’s little albert experiment shows that phobias can be learned.
obsessive compulsive disorder (ocd)
recurrent obsessions and or compulsions. repetitive cycle may ensue in which obsessions cause anxiety that is partially relieved by compulsions.
obsessions
ideas or thoughts that involuntarily and constantly intrude into awareness
compulsions
repetitive behavior
post traumatic stress disorder (ptsd)
maladaptive reaction to traumatic events or stressors. encounter lingering problem with adjustment, often for years after an event.
event does not have to happen personally, just be witnessed in some way.
gets worse with time.
somatoform disorders
involve physical bodily symptoms or complaints with no known medical or biological cause for disorder.
-somatic symptom disorder, conversion disorder
somatic symptom disorder
interpreting normal body sensations as proof of disease, expressing anxieties through bodily complaints, and/or disabling pain with no identifiable basis.
conversion disorder
loss or altering of physical, often neurological, function that suggests a physical disorder, but not with any medical explanation. can be sensory or motor. doesn’t cause the sufferer any distress.
glove anasthesia
type of conversion disorder. loss of sensitivity in the areas of skin that would normally be covered by a glove. medically, everything is intact.
dissociative disorders
retreat or escape from some aspect of one’s experience or one’s personality. can be dramatic or subtle.
-dissociative identity disorder, dissociative amnesia, dissociative fugue.
dissociative identity disorder (DID)
development of multiple personalities within the same individual. may represent a type of psychological defense against trauma or unbearable abuse from childhood.
fMRIs look different for the personalities.
personalities can have their own traits, manner of speech, memories, and medical conditions.
dissociative amnesia
loss of memory that cannot be explained as the result of a head trauma/physical cause. typically involves loss of memories associated with a specific traumatic event.
dissociative fugue
amnesiac forgetfulness accompanied by a change of location with no medical explanation for amnesia. outward behaviors appear normal, so it’s hard to identify. possibly assuming a new identity to make up for the loss. no panic associated with loss of/lack of memories.
personality disorders
long-lasting patterns of perceiving, relating, and thinking about the environment and oneself that are maladaptive and inflexible and cause either impaired functioning or distress. symptoms begin in childhood, can’t be diagnosed until 18 yrs old.
-antisocial, paranoid, narcissistic, dependent, histrionic
antisocial personality disorder
not good to other people. manipulative, an exceptional lack of regard for the rights and properties of others, accompanied by impulsive, often criminal, behavior.
paranoid personality disorder
high levels of suspiciousness of the motives and intentions of others but without outright paranoid delusions.
narcissistic personality disorder
reflects grandiose exaggeration of self importance. an excessive need for attention and admiration.
dependent personality disorder
pattern of excessive dependence on others and difficulty making independent decisions.
histrionic personality disorder
dramatic and emotional behavior, excessive demands to be the center of attention, excessive need for reassurance, praise, and approval.
mood disorders
disturbance in emotional reactions or feelings with the duration and/or intensity or extreme nature of the mood is the major symptom.
-major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, bipolar disorder
major depressive disorder
downcast mood, feelings of hopelessness, changes in sleep patterns or appetite, loss of motivation, loss of pleasure in pleasant activities. following a depressive episode, person may return to functioning. recurrences are common.
-seasonal affective disorder
diathesis stress model
depression results from the interaction of inherited predisposition and the experience of stress or trauma.
seasonal affective disorder (sad)
depression that occurs during fall and winter months. typically treated with phototherapy.
dysthymic disorder
a chronic pattern of mild depression. person feels “down in the dumps” most of the time, but not as severely depressed as with m.d.d.
bipolar disorder
periods of shifting moods between mania and depression, perhaps with intervening periods of normal mood. manic episodes are characterized by pressured speech, flight of ideas, poor judgement, hyperactivity, and inflated mood and sense of self, not needing sleep.
treated with lithium.
psychotic disorders
striking changes in thinking, behavior, and emotion: reflecting a loss of contact with shared views of reality.
-Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia
Alzheimer’s disease
major disturbances in memory, reasoning, judgement, impulse control, and personality.
related to: genetic predisposition, obesity, heart disease, diabetes, head injury.
can only be certainly diagnosed at autopsy: low levels of acetylcholine.
dimentia
marked loss of intellectual abilities (memory, judgement, and impulse control)
schizophrenia
delusions, hallucinations, bizarre behavior, incoherent or loosely connected speech, inappropriate emotions or lack of emotional expression, social withdrawal.
becomes prevalent in 20s-30s.
distortion of reality, retreat from people, disturbances in ABC. no clear cause.
negative symptoms of schizophrenia
decrease in normal functioning.
poor attention, apathy, reduced energy, social withdrawal.
positive symptoms of schizophrenia
addition of abnormal behavior. hallucinations and delusions, distorted thinking + speech, bizarre behavior. blocking dopamine prevents these.
hallucination
false perceptions
delusions
false beliefs
Childhood disorders
Autism Spectrum Disorder, PKU
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
disorder of impaired social interaction, problems with communication, and unusual or severely limited activities and interests.
characterized by: deficits in social communication and interaction, restricted/repetitive behaviors and interests.
diagnosed in childhood.
Eating disorders
anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder.
